Tales From Death Week – Making the Most of a Plan B Challenge(r)
Some may recognize the name Jason Sack from his ‘Cowboy Up’ ’69 Chevrolet Nova, a single turbocharged LS-swapped ride that clocked a PB of 7.08 at 196 mph on day three of this year’s Sick Week.
The Nova is currently undergoing upgrades, but Jason had a plan for Death Week that would allow him to not only participate, but involve friends as well.
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His original Death Week plan? Take one Buick Estate station wagon (nicknamed Burt), convert it to LS3 power, and take it from Wyoming to Arizona with friends Darren Bailey and Daryne Fegler.
Come the day before tech-in, and Burt was not in good shape. “Burt is a fighter, and he developed a massive oil leak from the bell housing area,” said Jason at the time.
Pulling the transmission to install a rear main seal didn’t solve the leak, so the engine was pulled and yet another new rear main seal, along with a new oil pan gasket, was installed. But the leak wasn’t fixed, so it was time to pull the plug and figure out alternatives. “Making a plan to get to Phoenix and either buy a car or rent one,” said Jason.
The decision after their plane touched down in Arizona? A 2023 Dodge Challenger rental car, which Jason promptly nicknamed the ‘Plum Soft Challenger.’ “It’s all about the adventure, according to Tom Bailey,” said Jason. “So, we’re making the most of it.”
The Challenger would carry the Jason, Darren and Daryne show on not only the entire route and checkpoints of Death Week, but also routed the friends to some additional spots, including Vulture City Ghost Town, K1 Speed go kart track, and the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California.
Nine days later, the trio returned to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, and the Challenger had nearly 70 runs on it with five different drivers.
“We did it,” said Jason. “One car, five drivers, and we finished Death Week. Bucket list locations checked off one after another, and I got to do with my great friends.”
Did you miss the chance to participate in Death Week? Check out the details on our next one-off event, Sick 66, scheduled for October 2024. More details and ‘expression of interest’ forms available HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Jason Sack.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com